Former Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne has announced that he will retire from Test cricket following his 100th match, set to take place against Australia in Colombo this week.

With Australia leading the series 1-0, the second Test is scheduled to begin on February 6 in Galle, the same venue where Karunaratne made his debut in November 2012 against New Zealand.

Karunaratne Calls It the ‘Right Time to Go’

The 36-year-old opener has been struggling with form, managing 541 runs in 21 innings since the beginning of 2024 at an average of 27.05, with five half-centuries. Speaking ahead of the game, Karunaratne stated that the timing felt right for his departure from the longest format.

“This match is in Galle, where I started my Test career, so it feels fitting to end it here. After the first Test against Australia, I informed Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) that this would be my last match,” he said.

With Sri Lanka only scheduled to play two more Tests until May 2026, Karunaratne believes that limited opportunities in the format influenced his decision.

Career Highlights and Regrets

Karunaratne has been a key figure in Sri Lankan cricket, scoring 7,172 runs in 99 Tests at an average of 39.40, including 16 centuries and 39 fifties. His highest Test score remains 244.

Despite a successful career, he admitted to having a couple of regrets.

“Reaching 100 Tests is a tough milestone, especially as an opening batter doing the hard work for the team. But if there’s one regret, it’s not reaching 10,000 Test runs. Between 2017 and 2019, I thought I had a good chance, but the COVID-19 pandemic and Sri Lanka’s reduced Test schedule made it difficult.”

Another unfulfilled dream was playing in a World Test Championship (WTC) final. “We came close twice, but unfortunately, we couldn’t make it,” he added.

A Legacy in Sri Lankan Cricket

Karunaratne will become only the seventh Sri Lankan cricketer to reach 100 Test appearances, joining legends like Sanath Jayasuriya, Muthiah Muralidaran, Chaminda Vaas, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, and Angelo Mathews.

As a captain, he led Sri Lanka in 30 Tests, winning 12 matches, losing 12, and drawing six. He remains Sri Lanka’s most successful batter in the ICC World Test Championship, scoring 2,592 runs in 34 matches at an average of 41.14, with six centuries and 16 fifties.

In limited-overs cricket, he also played 50 ODIs, amassing 1,316 runs at an average of 31.33, including a century and 11 half-centuries, with a highest score of 103.

As Karunaratne prepares to bid farewell, his contributions to Sri Lankan cricket will be remembered for years to come.